NEWS

Bild’s PBS work with specialist college nominated for national award

A specialist college for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities has been nominated for a national award, after partnering with Bild to implement a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach.

Derwen College in Shropshire, has been working with Bild since early 2018 to implement PBS as well as to reduce incidents of student behaviours considered disruptive, distressing or aggressive. The college has now reported a 41% decrease in reported incidents.

The College has now been nominated for a Times Educational Supplement Further Education Award – ‘Support for Learners’.

Nearly half of Derwen’s 110 students have Autism and, for many of these students, anxieties and frustrations are barriers to learning and development.

With Bild, all 340 members of staff at the college took part in PBS programmes at either Foundation, Practitioner or Coaches level, with some going on to complete basic functional assessment training as well. Bild also provided consultancy, sessions for the senior leadership team and governors and facilitated consultation with staff as part of the college-wide approach. There is now a team of 15 support coaches and assessors who have completed intensive training to plan and implement the new approach.

Bild’s PBS Development Lead Tom Evans said: “Derwen College have demonstrated clear commitment to organisational implementation of PBS, led from the top and involving all stakeholders. The results, not only in terms of reduction of incidents but in increased staff skills leading to an overall improvement in students and staff quality of life, are really impressive.”

Derwen College’s Wellbeing Manager Von Bailey said: “This level of investment, in terms of both time and money, represents a huge commitment to improving the quality of life of our students. We strongly believe that providing staff with appropriate training and support and opportunities to creatively adopt a pro-active, person-centred approach is a key contributor to the noticeable reduction in behavioural incidents across College, resulting in students who are happier and more receptive to learning.”

The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony in March 2020.